Surfshark VPN takes aim at Life360 by launching HeyPolo, a privacy-first location-sharing app

The team behind Surfshark, one of the best VPNs, has launched its new location-sharing app, HeyPolo.

It's described as "a privacy-first alternative to location-sharing apps," and ensures a balance between personal safety and data privacy, with no data being sold to third-parties. Its main competitor is Life360 – well-known for sharing user data – as well as Apple and Android's "Find My" apps.

The app is highly customizable, allowing you to choose the level of location-sharing you desire.

A one-year plan costs $3.99 per month ($47.88 upfront pre-tax) and comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. New users can take advantage of a 30-day free-trial and there's unlimited connections on one plan – meaning all your friends and family can join for free.

HeyPolo was created by the team behind Surfshark, the best cheap VPN and the VPN that sits at number two on our best VPN guide. However, it is a separate product, with its own development team.

Location sharing, not surveillance

Surfshark has said HeyPolo is "designed around choice, respect, and privacy." You can choose how, where, and when you share your location – and who with. Surfshark says this "puts control back in the hands of the user," and creates "a more balanced and privacy-focused experience."

Crucially, HeyPolo does not sell user data to third-parties. It "will never sell, monetize, or exploit user location data" and it said all data is encrypted.

There are three location-sharing levels to choose from:

• Exact Location – your group can see your live location
• General Area – your group will see the neighbourhood you're in
• Private Mode – all location services are turned off. No one can see your location

You can also set exact start and end times for sharing, with the tracking ceasing completely once the timer expires.

Notifications can be set up for certain individuals. For example, you can be notified when your child arrives and leaves school. Location alerts, low battery alerts, and emergency alerts can all be activated.

You can share your trips with people in your group, should you wish. This will detail where you travelled to, and when. It'll show your route on a map and display its length.

Location sharing isn't constant, although you can set it to display 24/7. Other options include Repeating periods, and One time. The former shares your location repeatedly within a specific time range. The latter shares your location for a limited time.

HeyPolo emphasises control. You decide what is shared, for how long, and who with.

Location sharing can be a comfort for friends, families, and anyone concerned about personal safety.

"As a father myself, I wanted to create an app that could help me ensure my family’s safety while respecting and protecting their data at the same time," said Edvinas Sersniovas, CEO at HeyPolo.

"People want safety, but they don’t want to sacrifice their autonomy or feel controlled by those they trust. We are changing the perception that location sharing must equal surveillance."

HeyPolo collects your location data to provide its service. It's not clear if this is still collected when you are in Private Mode. We have reached out to Surfshark and HeyPolo to confirm this.

How to set HeyPolo up

HeyPolo can be downloaded now from the Google Play and Apple App Stores, and there is a 30-day free-trial for new users. Following that, you can subscribe for one-month or one-year.

A one-year subscription costs $3.99 per month ($47.88 upfront pre-tax). A one-month plan costs $5.99 per month. There's a 30-day money-back guarantee, and one subscription covers unlimited groups and members.

To create a group, open the HeyPolo app and tap the group icon. Select Create Group, name your group and choose a role. You can then adjust visibility preferences, and copy the generated code to share with family and friends. You can click Add People, to add other users to your groups.

Are there any concerns?

Many people will be grateful for the launch of HeyPolo. Personal safety is an important issue to many, and they will welcome the ability to share their location and not be tracked, exploited, or surveyed while doing so.

Existing location-sharing apps like Life360 do not provide these privacy assurances. For those that use them, HeyPolo is marketing itself as the alternative.

Although not directly controlled by Surfshark VPN, HeyPolo reinforces the growing trend of VPN companies expanding into non-VPN cybersecurity protections. NordVPN, Surfshark, and ExpressVPN now offer privacy suites as part of their VPN subscriptions. While Proton VPN remains a standalone product, it comes included in a Proton Unlimited subscription – along with Proton Mail, Drive, Calendar, Wallet, Pass, and Lumo AI.

Privacy purists may take issue with VPNs expanding into other areas. More apps and features equals more information to collect, and although VPN companies are bound by strict no-logs policies, there is a certain amount of data collection involved.

In order for the app to work, and to achieve its primary purpose, HeyPolo must collect your geolocation data.

HeyPolo's privacy policy states it collects: "Your geolocation data, your added places, your familiar area, information about your trips, name of other members in the group, their geolocation and other information they decide to share with you."

This data is retained while your account is active, and "for two years after your last login."

Geolocation data is kept "until you withdraw your consent." Motion and fitness activity data is collected with separate consent. It's used to determine speed and direction in order to work out your mode of transport. This data is also held until you withdraw your consent.

Not giving consent or disabling your device's location settings will impact how HeyPolo can be used – it fundamentally relies on this location data.

Compared to existing competitors, at first glance it looks like HeyPolo is considerable improvement in terms of data privacy and sharing. However, it's unlikely to appeal to committed privacy seekers.